Aeschylus - his are the oldest surviving plays - began competing 449 B.C. at Dionysus Theatre. Most of his plays were part of trilogies; the only extant Greek trilogy is The Orestia.
He is Believed to have introduced the 2nd actor (Thespis was one, the 2nd added; after 468 B.C. Sophocles is believed to have introduced the 3rd actor, which Aeschylus then used.
Characteristics of Aeschylus's plays:
characters have limited number of traits, but clear and direct
emphasizes forces beyond human control
evolution of justice, impersonal
power of state eventually replacing personal revenge
chain of private guilt and punishment - all reconciled at end
He is Believed to have introduced the 2nd actor (Thespis was one, the 2nd added; after 468 B.C. Sophocles is believed to have introduced the 3rd actor, which Aeschylus then used.
Characteristics of Aeschylus's plays:
- characters have limited number of traits, but clear and direct
- emphasizes forces beyond human control
- evolution of justice, impersonal
- power of state eventually replacing personal revenge
- chain of private guilt and punishment - all reconciled at end
http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd130et/ancientgreek.htm#ComAeschylus
(E.D.A. Morshead, transl.)
(E.D.A. Morshead, transl.)
(E.D.A. Morshead, transl.)
(Robert Potter, transl.)
(E.D.A. Morshead, transl.)
(E.D.A. Morshead, transl.)